Latest Fieldnotes

This stone is just over the wall from the Goggleby Stone and has some lovely cup marks.

This small camp must have been a fairly attractive place to live. Screened from the wind and facing inward towards the land amongst a jumble of rocks, it would have been difficult to find. Spent some time up here watching small birds feeding in the boggy wet ground, it has enormous presence this rocky outcrop, peaceful as well.
Not so peaceful (reason I am writing this) is the walk up the cliff path, 18 inches wide and a vertical drop to the sea, for those who suffer from vertigo take a different route. At the stream below turn right up the valley and then head back to the headland along the top.
Cunliffe -Iron Age communities in Britain; to quote;-
A complex rampart protected a small group of 6 conjoined
stone wall huts 5-20 ft in dia., excavated in 1900.
Sparse finds;- whetstones, spindle whorls, hammer stones and fragments of iron, plus a few glass beads.

As a matter of general information it is no longer possible to access Coldrum Longbarrow by driving up Coldrum Lane. There is now a gate shutting it off to vehicles with a “Private Road, No Access” sign.

All visitors in cars must now use the official car park and footpath. However there is still a gap at the side of the gate wide enough for pedestrians. I am not yet able to ascertain the legal status of the new gate, but I believe that the lane may be a bridleway.

In any case at present the Barrow is therefore no longer easily accessible to disabled people, as the footpath is muddy and uneven and runs through a hollow that gets very swampy when it’s been raining.
At one time the chamber stones could be viewed without even getting out of the car, this is no longer the case.

Many Blessings. Oriondruid.

This stone row was marked on my Ireland Road Map and since I was in Cavan town I decided to investigate. After following the map I came to a parking area with a half buried sign for ‘Finn McCool’s Fingers’ which sounded like it could be what I was looking for or else Birdseye had dumped good ole’ Captain Birdseye and rebranded. Luckily my first guess was correct.

The steep track up the hill must be treacherous in bad weather but it was well trampled, this site seems popular with someone. The forest marked on the map has been mostly cleared save for a few fallen trees blocking the track at the top of the hill but once you get to the site the views are very expansive.

The stones themselves are not massively tall (highest is just short of six foot) but are quite bulky and its easy to see why they were given the nickname. Four standing stones form a row with a low fallen/natural stone at the rear and a few metres in front of the row is what looks like a natural outcrop which is around a foot high but very wide and quite flat. In all the arrangement does resemble five fingers and a thumb (the outcrop) sticking out from the hill below.

There was evidence of recent fires and other alcohol fuelled activity here but the stones are untouched and the rest of the plateau is untouched. A nice place to sit in the mid-day sun but maybe not as hospitable on a rainy/windy day.

To get here follow the R188 from Cavan to Cootehill under the new bypass bridge, take the next right turn to the very small crossroads, turn left and keep going over the hill for about 2km until you see a small sign (Finn McCools fingers) on the right in the hedge in a small parking area. Park here and hike up the hillside track and turn left over the stiles, the track brings you straight to the stones.

From the top of (what remains of) Skellaw, you can just make out this stone, standing in a field behind the farmhouse in the distance.

Very friendly farmer was more than happy for us to wander around in his field and the sense of how the sites were once connected is quite amazing.

We walked from The Goggleby Stone, across to Asper’s Field and onto Skellaw before heading out here and it is really worth it – bit too lazy to walk all the way back to Kemp Howe though!

This standing stone isnt even on the map and you can imagine my surprise driving by. I was a little disappointed when I found that it was previously recorded but not to worry.

Taken from North Tipp Archaeological Inventory “Standing Stone
Situated just below the crest of a NW-SE ridge, on the NE side, in undulating reclaimed pasture-land. The site is not depicted on the 1st (1840) or 2nd (1904) ed. OS Map although the 2nd ed. Map depicts an area of outcrop at this location. According to Stout (1984, 21-2) there is a tradition that this possible standing stone is associated with a kerbed mound 300m to the SE. The stone is composed of sandstone with quartz inclusions and has a rounded profile and rectangular plan (H. 1.1m; dims/ 1.85m x 0.4-0.53m). It has inclining sides and is split along its bedding plane giving flat faces on the NE and SW sides. Aligned NW-SE.”

I found this totally by accident, it is down on the OS map as a ‘mound’. In reality it looks better than the pictures, it is pretty difficult to capture because of all the scrub bushes around it.

I think these cupmarks signify that this site is much more important in a local context than previously accounted for.

Taken from North Tipp Archaeological Inventory “Mound Barrow
Situated on a gentle S-facing slope in very wet, rushy terrain in rough pasture, on a fairly flat ridge. A grass-covered mound (16.3m N-S; H0.6-1m) defined by a an interrupted non-contigous circle of twenty-six substantial kerbstones of sandstone with some quartz inclusions (H 0.44-0.88m: with 0.52-0.8m; T 0.19-0.32M). Some of the kerbstones are split with their flat surface towards the interior. According to an OPW field report (30-12-1977) there are cupmarks on the external faces of some of the kerbstones in the SE quadrant; these are now covered with lichen. A possible cupmark was noted on the internal face of a stone in the NNW quadrant and on the external face of a stone at ESE. Two boulders are exposed roughly in the centre of the mound aligned NW-SE and 0.48m apart. The SW stone is 0.93m long and at least 0.25m wide; the NE stone is more grass covered. Both appear to have their flat edge lining the interior of a possible cist; no visible endstones. Immediately S of the site the slope has been cut to form a field drainage ditch associated with a boundary bank.”

This is down on the OS map as ‘stones’ and its been intriguing me for quite a while. Finally got to see it and although I thought before going to site it might have been a stone row it turned out to be what looks like a court tomb (this is based on the fact that to me it looks a lot like Shanballyedmond which isnt that far away). The diameter is roughly 62m and I would think it was aligned north-south or south-north, it was hard to tell which ‘end’ was the end. Its just off the road as well so is easy to find. One part of the field it is in had a load of stone field clearance.

Edit
The SMR records the site as a Ring-Cairn with the following description.
“On a gentle SW-facing slope of rising ground in upland region overlooking the Gortnageragh river valley from S to W. Directly N of the ring-cairn there is an outlying low orthostat (TS045-001002-). Monument consists of a low circular rise (diam. 18m SW-NE; 19.5m NW-SE; H 0.3) of loosely piled stones or low orthostats (avg. dims. 1m x 0.5m) which in places consists of double rows of orthostats defining the perimeter of the monument which may represent internal and external kerbing containing cairn material, indicative of a poorly preserved ring-cairn. The interior is fairly open with several low mounds of loosely piled stones. In the OS Namebook (1840) the ring-cairn is described as a fort which ‘has a sepulchral chamber inside it’ (O’Donovan et. al.) while its local name Rathnacloghal fort is translated as the fort of the white stones.”

This standing stone forms part of the field boundary. However I do think it is in the original position because it seems well inbedded into the ground.
It is wider at the base and at least 2m. All around it to the north east and west are low hills. However to the south-west what I think is the hill of Knockgrean/Knocksefin rises up in Limerick and my feeling is that is placed in reference to these.

I couldn’t believe it when I saw these massive cup-marks on the face of this standing stone, I was getting blow off the plain that the standing stone is on so I didnt count exactly how many but Id say there is at least 10 on it. All quite deep and large.

This site im sure is a bit of a controversial site. It has no link at the moment to the megalithic but I think from the amount of christainisation of the site (Cross on top and two marian statues) that this may have been a powerful pagan site at one stage.
Also if Gilles MacBain is correct (see link) about the sunrising and setting through the Bit, I wonder if there are any monuments in the area aligned to both the Bit and the sun-rise/sunsets.
I also know that the present name is only a recent addition and that the former name Gap of Ely is a norman name so I would be very interested to know what the original gaelic name for the Bit was. It may give us an idea to its former use/dedication. Also see the folklore.

This is a gorgeous RSC and should be added to the list of ‘essential’ Aberdeenshire circles (Granted that list is getting rather long now).

This piece of Forestry Commission woodland has now had some waymarked trails installed, which makes it a pleasant place to spend a couple of hours, especially with small children.

The circle can be found on the red/green trails. If time is pressing, from the carpark take the left hand uphill trail & follow the red/green markers. Its uphill all the way, but you should be at the circle in about 15 mins. From this direction its on the left of the trail, adjacent to 2 of the story posts and the only bench on the walk. Follow the path through the bracken & planting for about 400 yards and you’re there.

The circle sits on a fairly level shelf, and most of the planting has been cut down giving wide views over the recumbent. Once you return to the main trail, follow it a little way further to the left and you’ll also find a ruinous chambered cairn.

You’ll find this & other walks in a FC leaflet available from the Tourist office or you can try forestry.gov.uk/scotland

BTW this circle does not show up on my OS Explorer map, but it can be found on the Landranger. Clune Wood is clearly marked south of Kirkton of Durris though.

The remains of this tomb are very disappointing. It is on the side of the hill Cnoc on Stanna. Only three stones remain. There is a lot of over-grown scrub in the area possibly some of the tomb has been dumped in it but as far as I could see this is all the remains.

This henge is just south of cashel town off the N8. After u leave the last roundabout in the town the henge is the next left and maybe only 300m up this road on the right hand side. As always when im out the place was full of animals. Two little terriers ran from a house at least a mile away to come and bark at me which was quite funny and it seems to be a home to a heap of hares.
The henge itself is massive Id say its radius is approx 20m which would give it a diameter of 125m. The bank isnt that high and is covered in shrub so it is hard to see how high it is but id say it reaches 1.25-1.5m in places. There seems to be a barrow like round impression in the centre of the henge, possibly the imprint of a structure. Ive no idea of its history but about 200m down the road there is a clubhouse called ‘Fort Aengus’ so possibly this is the local name for the henge.

This lovely lichen covered stone stands along the road from The Drift stones.You can park opposite in a layby. Take care crossing the road, remember these drivers are Cornish and dangerous!!!!! Access to the field is easy, just remember the country code and you will be amazed by this stone.

This stands about 1km from the road up the Sarn Helen Roman Road. Just after the trees end you will come upon it on the left. If you climb over the wooden fence just after the gate it is easy to get right up to the stone. I took a couple more pics but my finger crept over the lens, pity. It is well worth the walk and is not far from Maen Llia.

If you go into old Taston,
You will see, along the road’s edge,
A curious, nosey old stone there,
Peering shamelessly through the hedge.

I was lucky enough to meet up with Jane and Moth two weekends ago and we went to visit Devil’s Quoits.

It has to be stressed that there is still NO PUBLIC ACCESS to this site and they do not welcome visitors, but Jane was able to work her magic and we were granted brief access to the site. This point needs to be made as if you try and make your way to the site you are going to be setting yourself up for disappointment and a wasted journey. It is well and truly off limits.

I have to say I was impressed by what I saw. Much work has been done since the last postings and the site now resembles a henge and stone circle, as opposed to a filthy great pit or building site.

The henge has been fully reconstructed and two of the original three stones, in addition to six new stones have been erected. There is still much to be done but it was wonderful to gain a tangible view of what the henge must have once looked like.

The largest of the original stones has still to be erected but it’s trench is dug and it has been raised on to wooden struts, so hopefully this will be done soon.

Slightly disappointingly, the company that bought the site from Hansen, WRG (Waste Resource Group) Ltd’s PR Manager said that no work was scheduled for the foreseeable future.

Two factors are affecting the site, feathers and rabbit holes. I would say, when building a rabbit fence around something, that you check there’s no rabbits inside what you’re enclosing. Either that or the fence is completely innaffectual. One area of the henge has become riddled with rabbit holes.

And when the sun shines the whole area shimmers silvery white, by the feathers shed from various thousands of geese and other birds that have used the site as a temporary home whilst they make use of the lake to the south of the area.

In the North Oxfordshire countryside, about one mile from the village of Tadmarton, you will find a triangle of steeply banked hills. They are known as Jester’s Hill, Round Hill and Madmarston Hill.

Madmarston Hill is the site of an ironage hillfort which dates back to circa. 200 BC. The site is now used for farming purposes and nothing remains of the original fort, although it is possible from the west and east, to detect the remains of the earthworks that would have surrounded it. The earthworks enclose a site of around seven acres.

A roman road, now a bridle way, popular among horse riders and walkers, runs south along the site so it is possible to get a good view of the place, despite the land being private.

The site was the interest of an archaelologist, P J Fowler, and he spent two years from 1957-58 excavating the site. Several row barrows were uncovered and pits containing fractures of pot, animal bone as well as a natural spring were also discovered.

Madmarston hill and Jesters hill are both natural formations and both plateau to an even flat summit. Madmarston was presumably chosen as the site for a fort as it is a rounder formation to its longer narrower neighbour.

The Ordnance Survey map of the fort (ref SP386389) illustrates the remains of the earthworks on the hill in good detail.

This is a lovely stone, standing quite close to the roadside on the road to Attymass from Ballina.

(I think the hamlet is also signed as Currower)

As we approached, the first sunshine of the day broke through (it was 5pm and had been raining all day!) and the stone was visible on the left of the road.

One of the very few sites I managed to see on my very short break to Mayo but a lovely one, all the same.

There are numerous cairn graves on Castle Down, but among them are well defined entrance or chamber tombs.

This one is a real beauty,but not easy to reach.. It is set in a commanding position overlooking the cannle between Bryher and Samson. From below, it can be reached from the coast path, but the brambles and bracken are fierce. The best approach is by climbing Samson Hill and then it can be sen from above.

Northumberland & Durham SMR Ref No: N13330 says of the Ox Eye long cairn, near Chillingham (Chatton):

“The Ox Eye long cairn has only fairly recently been recognised as such. It was first noted in the early 1990s and was surveyed about ten years later by members of the Border Archaeological Society. The prehistoric cairn is trapezoidal in shape and measures 55m long by 22m wide and stands just over 2m high. The edges of the cairn are quite difficult to see as they have tumbled and are covered in bracken. This is one of only a handful of long cairns in the county.”

The cairn lies in the centre of a large clearing in the dense forest plantation of Ros Hill Wood. The quite prominent raised shape is surrounded by a larger ring of bracken contrasting with the surrounding deep heather.

The Ox Eye natural boundary stone lies to the SW and has eroded in one part into several tubes, which pierce, in an unlikely manner in at least one case, straight through the rock. Perhaps these are the origin of the Ox Eye name.

The Beckensall Archive describes two cup-marked outcrops between the cairn and boundary marker but these I couldn’t find. They weren’t revisited for the Archive project and Stan says that they are usually buried in deep heather. The Ox-Eye 1 slab is described as having scattered cup marks, most of them in a cluster at one end. Ox-Eye 2 has a scatter of 28 cups, some of which may be paired like those at Ros Castle.

Comparison with old OS maps of the area shows that before afforestation the area was called Lousy Law and the cairn was given as Shepherd’s Cairn. Two more Shepherd’s Cairns are shown on the ridge at Millstone Hill so perhaps this name is more to do with (apparent) origin. Recent maps apply Shepherd’s Cairn to only one point of the ridge midway between Ros Castle and Millstone Hill. The large Ox Eye stone, however, appears to have been one of the several boundary markers along the parish boundary.

It was a horrible day with rain (sleet on the hills) and mist. However, the trusty hound wanted to go out and see some rock art, so I gave in and we went up to Ros Castle.

Millstone Hill is just over 1km NE of Ros Castle through deep wet heather and along the overgrown ?path on the E side of the substantial wall that makes the boundary of the Chillingham Castle estate and keeps you away from the wild white cattle. Fallen trees with wet branches, bog and heather made this a memorable experience.

We were heading for one of the more obscure panels of rock art in the Beckensall archive. This had not been revisited (probably never since 1990) and the grid reference given (actually very accurate) was based on the OS map, not a GPS. Just like the old days!

I give two pictures but apologise for the quality. Someone will just have to go back there, won’t they?

The rock is a gently sloping outcrop surrounded by deep heather which has been carved with cups linked by grooves; as Stan Beckensall says “like strings of beads”. This motif, although rare, is found elsewhere in Northumberland and further afield.

There are many cairns in the area – some probably from field clearance, but also a few kerbed cairns used for cremation burials. George Jobey excavated some on Millstone Hill in 1980 before afforestation but I don’t know how their position relates to that of the cup marked outcrop which wasn’t recorded at the time. Mr Berthele subsequently discovered a large triangular cup marked slab in a plough furrow when the forest was planted close to the excavated cairns. This portable stone is illustrated by Beckensall (1983 p.43) and is now at Chillingham Castle.

I took the way back through Ros Hill Wood to the E down the much easier system of forest rides. Don’t attempt this without a GPS. This lets you visit the Ox Eye long cairn on the way back.

The Cammon Stone is located in an area with some of the earliest evidence of human activity on the North Yorkshire Moors. It sits beside an upland trackway that runs from the Vale of Pickering in the south to the upper Esk Valley and The Vale of Cleveland in the north. The track was used as a drover’s road; Raymond Hayes wrote that it was being used as an important drove road in 1276 and was still being used for the same purpose as late as the 1930’s.
The stone sits in a depression beside the trackway and is leaning at an angle. I reckon that when the stone was upright it would have stood at about 6 feet high. Beside the stone is another large slab, a number of learned folk have speculated that this stone may also have once stood upright, if so they would have made a fine pair.
The stone itself is beautiful; the southern face has a deep water worn groove running from a small basin on the top of the stone, dividing the stone into two. I had walked to the stone from Farndale some four miles away and maybe the icy wind, fog and driving sleet had got to me but in my minds eye I saw the stone resembling a huge sleeping bat which could unfurl itself at any moment and fly away, a kind of prehistoric gargoyle… hypothermia may be a killer but it can also be fun in small doses!

Unfortunately on my last visit the views from the stone were extremely limited but if you find yourself at the stone on a good day there are some lovely views along the the isolated valley of Bransdale to the south west, Farndale to the south east and the moorland uplands to the north. The Barrows of the Three Howes also mark the horizon to the south.
Access to the stone involves a certain amount of effort; the rutted trackway beside the stone is wide and still used by as a keepers track. The shortest route to the stone is probably via one of the footpaths from the head of Farndale.

A mile to the north east of the stone are the nationally important flint sites of White Gill. Studies of the White Gill flint scatters have revealed evidence of early Mesolithic occupation, a number of flints showing affinities with the flint tools of Star Carr. This implies that the people of Star Carr may have used this route to access the uplands and establish summer camps.
A mile to the south of the Cammon stone is the flint site of Ouse Gill Head. The flint from this site indicated Mesolithic occupation continuing into the Neolithic and Bronze ages.
So what we have is a lovely ancient stone situated beside major routeway with evidence of use starting ten thousand years ago and continuing to the present day.